| The American Society of Media Photographers is deeply
concerned at the developing crisis that is threatening
continued access to the world's photographic heritage. The
RAW format1 is fast becoming the standard for
professional and other serious imaging. Encryption and the
abandonment and termination of support for older RAW formats
put in jeopardy the future use of many digital photographs.
As a result, the ability of photographers, clients,
librarians, educators, and the public at large to access,
use and control the photographs that make up our historical
heritage and the economic livelihoods of professional
photographers is at serious risk.
It is urgent that the manufacturers of digital cameras look
beyond their respective, short-term business plans and act for the good of future generations. ASMP implores them to do so and offers to work with them and all other interested parties towards ongoing and open access to images without
regard to proprietary technology. The visual history of the world requires no less.
Additional information is available at the following web
addresses:
http://photoshopnews.com/2005/05/11/digital-preservation/
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/raw-flaw.shtml
http://www.openraw.org/
http://www.rawformat.com/
1 A RAW file is a digital format to store light-sensor data
from a digital camera. Like film, a RAW file must be
"processed" in software before it can be viewed as an image.
Unlike TIFF or JPEG files, which are the same everywhere and
are defined by published standards, RAW files are defined differently by each camera maker. Some manufacturers are willing to reveal how their data is structured, but others keep that information secret. | 
